Gas drive for a weapon having a rotating cluster of barrels

ABSTRACT

A Gatling-type weapon utilizes gun gas from the barrels to reciprocate a vane motor, which motor biases a spring, and which spring incrementally rotates the cluster of barrels.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Lawrence R. Folson [56] ReferencesCited Charlotte, Vt. UNITED STATES PATENTS [211 P 738,404 598,822 2/1898Simpson 89/126 [221 Wed Jan-2,1969 1,749,137 3/1930 Hudson 89/192X [45]Patented Mar. 9, 1971 2,989,900 6/1961 Grover..... 89/12 [731 AsslgneeElect 3,041,939 7/1962 Dardick 89/126 Primary Examiner-Samuel FeinbergAssistant Examiner-Stephen C. Bentley WE q PON G A Attorneys-Bailin L.Kuch, Harry C. Burgess, Irving M. [54] OF B Freedman, F rank L.Neuhauser, Oscar B. Waddell and 7 claims, 6 Drawing Figs Melvin M.Goldenberg [52] U.S. CI 89/126,

8-9/ I 59 ABSTRACT: A Gatling-type weapon utilizes gun gas from the [51]Int.CI. F4101 7/04 barrels to reciprocate a vane motor, which motorbiases a [50] Field of Search 89/12, 126, spring, and which springincrementally rotates the cluster of barrels.

Patented March 9, 1971 r 2 Sheets-Sheet l Q 3.1K W? @7/7 n 1 I Jv mm vwOm mm INVENTOR LAWRENCE R. FOLSOM,

HIS ATTORNEY.

\A f //u |l H N L T m Patented March 9, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet I 0mm wONVON .rDlkDO mwZOm INVENTOR LAWRENCE R. FOLSOM,

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GAS DMVE FOR A WEAPON HAVING A ROTATING CLUSTER OF BARRELS BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to gasoperated, fully automatic weapons, and particularly to a very high rateof fire, rotating cluster of barrels, weapon.

2. Prior Art Gatling-type weapons have been well known for a century andare presently enjoying a reappearance in the military arsenai. Theannular grouping of a plurality of barrels in a cluster about a commonaxis, with the cluster being rotated to serially load and fire eachbarrel, permits very high rates of fire, particularly in comparison tothe maximum rate of fire possible with a single barrel weapon. Theearliest of these weapons were manually cranked to rotate the barrels,as shown for example in U.S. Pat. No. 36,836, issued to R. J. Gatling onNov. 4, 1862. It was proposed to make the Gatling gun gas operated,after the first round was fired, as shown for example in U.S. Pat. No.550,262, issued to C. J. Ebbets on Nov. 26, 1895. Here, gun gas fromeach barrel reciprocated a spring-biased crank arm, which in turnstepped a dog to ratchet the cluster. In 1890, an external electricmotor was utilized to rotate the barrel cluster. More recently, in fieldoperational weapons, an external electric motor with a flywheel and aclutch has been utilized, as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.2,849,921, issued to 1-1. McC. Otto on Sept. 2,

1958. Also, recently, the use of gun gas has again been proposed indifferent systems, such as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No.3,143,922, issued to Altschuler et al. on Aug. 1 l, l964utilizing avane-type rotary motor with slipper valves; in U.S. Pat. No. 3,263,565issued to A. J. Dragonetti et al. on Aug. 2, 1966, utilizing a pluralityof piston and cam assemblies; and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,407,701, issued toR. E. Chiabrandy on Oct. 29, 1968, utilizing a single piston and camassembly. I

The systems utilizing external motors have required a rather powerfulmotor, adequate to rapidly accelerate the cluster to full speed. Thesystems utilizing pistons are quite complex and are subjected todebilitating pounding from each gas impulse. The vane-type motor systemis also quite complex and subject to malfunction.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a drive systemfor a Gatling-type weapon utilizing gun gas, and which is simple andshock absorbing without significant debilitation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A feature of this invention is the provision ofa Gatling-type weapon having a cluster of gun barrels fixed to a barrelclamp, which clamp is fixed to one end of a torsion spring member whoseother end is fixed to an anchored one-way clutch; the clutch is alsofixed to vane rotor assembly in a gas manifold, which manifold is fixedto and receives the breach ends of the gun barrels. Each gun barrel hasa port which passes the gun gas impulse from the barrel against a vanein the manifold when a round is fired, rotating the vane assembly in thedirection permitted by the one-way clutch and twisting the torsionspring member. When the gas impulse decays, the anchored one-way clutchprecludes return rotation of the vane assembly while the torsion springmember untwists by rotating the cluster of barrels and the gas manifoldwith respect to the vane motor assembly. An additional feature is theprovision of a single-barrel weapon utilizing a similar drive forammunition feed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These and other objects, features andadvantages of this invention will be apparent from the followingdescription thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawingin which:

FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation, partially in cross section, of acluster of gun barrels of a Gatling-type weapon, such as is shown inU.S. Pat. No. 3,380,341, issued Apr. 30, 1968 to R. E. Chiabrandy;

FIG. 2 is a front view, in elevation, in cross section, taken alongplane 29-2, of the cluster of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view, in elevation, in cross section, taken along plane3-3 of the cluster of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear view, in elevation, in cross section, taken along planeM, of the cluster of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective of another embodiment of this inventionin a weapon having only a single barrel; and

FIG. 6 is a rear view in cross section, diagramming the gas manifold ofthe embodiment of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The barrel and drive assemblycomprises a plurality of gun barrels 10, here shown as six in number,which are supported in an annular, uniformly spaced-apart row by a backplate 12, a cylinder assembly including an end plate 14, a cylinder 16,and a manifold plate 18, and a plurality of annular clamps which are notshown. The back plate 12 has six uniformly spaced-apart peripheralnotches 20, the end plate l4similarly has notches 22, and the manifoldplate similarly has notches 24, all to respectively receive and alignthe barrels. The manifold plate has six longitudinal bores 26therethrough to pass respectively six bolts 28 therethrough, and the endplate has six longitudinal, internally threaded bores 30 therein torespectively receive the ends of said bolts, which serve to clamp themanifold plate, the cylinder and the end plate into a fixed assembly.The back plate 12 has four longitudinal bores 32 therethrough to passrespectively four bolts 34 therethrough, and the end plate has fourlongitudinal, internally threaded bores 36 to respectively receive theends of said bolts, which serve to fix the back plate to the end plate.The back plate 1.2 has a central bore 38 which receives an aft end of aforward torque tube 40, which is fixed thereto, as by a weldment 42.

The end plate 14 has a central bore 44. The manifold plate has a centralbore 46 of the same diameter as bore 44 and these bores pass an afttorque tube 50 therethrough. A plurality of grooves 51 are cut into thebore 46 and a plurality of grooves 52 are cut into the bore 44 toprovide respective labyrinth gas seals with the tubeSO. The aft end ofthe aft torque tube 50 is fixed to the rotor 53 of a one-way clutch 54whose stator 56 is anchored to suitable structure of the gun. The aftend of the torque tube 50 is fixed, as by splines 57, to the aft end ofa torsion bar 58, whose forward end is fixed, as by spline 60, to a cap62, which is fixed to the forward end of the torque tube 40, as by aweldment 64.

Two rotors 70 are diametrically fixed as by weldments 72, to the torquetube 50 within the cylinder 16. A plurality of longitudinal and radialgrooves 74 are cut into the periphery of each rotor to provide alabyrinth seal with respect to the adjacent cylinder, end plate andmanifold plate walls.

Two stators are diametrically fixed within and to the cylinder 16, themanifold plate 18, and the end plate 14. Each stator is longitudinallysecured to the manifold plate and to the end plate by two respectivepins 82, 84. Each stator is fixed to the cylinder by a longitudinal key86, a radial pin 83 and a radial machine screw 90. A plurality ofgrooves92 are cut into the inner periphery of each stator to provide alabyrinth seal with the adjacent torque tube 50.

The manifold plate 18 is cast with a central, annular gas distributingbore 190, having a plurality of outwardly angled gas intake bores 102respectively communicating with each barrel receiving peripheral notch24. Each inlet bore 102 is formed at an angle, here shown is 28", so asto be coaxial with a radial bore m4 formed in the adjacent gun barrel10, and to direct gun gas flowing therefrom along a substantiallytangential path into the gas distributing bore. The distribution bore 1%has two diametrically spaced-apart, longitudinal outlet bores 166. Eachoutlet bore is located adjacent a longitudinal cutout lfitl in thesidewall of the respective stator 80, so that gun gas passing from theoutlet bore is discharged between the normally adjacent rotor andstator.

Two diametrically spaced-apart bypass grooves 110 are cut into the endplate 14 to leak some gas around the respective stator after the rotorhas rotated away from its adjacent stator by 20.

In operation, the barrel cluster may beinitially accelerated by anexternal source of rotational force in conjunction with the gas drive tofiring speed; or the gas drive alone may be utilized to accelerate andmaintain the speed of the barrel cluster.

A portion of the gas generated by firing a round of ammunition through arespective barrel is directed through the barrel gas port 104 into themanifold gas distribution bore 100 and thence through the two outletbores 106 and between the normally adjacent leftand right-hand pairs ofstator and rotor. The rotors are rotated counterclockwise (as seen inFIG. 3) by the inflowing gun gas, which passes longitudinally forward,to the bypass cutouts 110 and counterclockwise around the ends of therotors, into the decreasing spaces between the righthand rotor and theleft-hand stator and between the left-hand rotor and the right-handstator. This residual bypass gas is compressed by the rotors and acts asa shock absorber as the rotors counterclockwise approach the stators.

The rotors, when rotating counterclockwise, rotate the fixed-theretotorque tube 50 counterclockwise, which is the direction permitted by theone-way clutch whose rotor 56 is fixed to the aft end of the torquetube. The aft end of the torque tube, which is fixed to the aft end ofthe torsion bar 58, develops a counterclockwise twist in the torsion baragainst the bars relatively stationary forward end. The bars forward endis relatively stationary since it is fixed, via the torque tube 40, tothe barrel cluster which has a relatively high moment of inertia. Whenthe rotors have been halted at the end of their counterclockwise cycleof travel, clockwise rotation of the rotors is precluded by the one-wayclutch 54. The torsion bar 58 relatively slowly unwinds by rotating thebarrel cluster and the fixed thereto stators 80 counterclockwise to thenormal position shown in FIG. 3. Residual gun gas trapped between thestators and rotors is effective as a shock absorber and is subsequentlyvented through the barrel. When the barrel cluster has been fullyindexed counterclockwise 60, the next successive barrel has a roundfired therethrough, providing the next gas impulse. The relatively largemoment of inertia of the barrel cluster serves as a fiy wheel providinga smooth acceleration of the barrel cluster to a plateau at the desiredfiring velocity.

While the invention has been disclosed in FIG. 1 as incorporated in aGatling-type weapon for rotating the barrel cluster, it will beappreciated that rotation of the barrel cluster will be made effectiveto drive the ammunition feeder system.

DESCRIPTION OF A SECOND EMBODIMENT The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6utilizes the same stepping principle to permit the gun gas pulses from asingle, stationary barrel to drive a power output mechanism, such aswould drive an ammunition feeding system.

The barrel 200 is stationary and is coupled to a stationary cylinder 202which has two diametrically opposed, centripetally directed vanes 204. Arotor tube 206 is disposed coaxially within the cylinder 202 and has twodiametrically opposed, centrifugally directed vanes 207.

A torque tube 208 is fixed, coaxially, to and between the rotor tube 206and the outer member (stator) 210 of a unidirectional clutch assembly212. The inner member (rotor) 214 of the clutch assembly 212 is fixed toone end of a torsion bar 216 whose other end is anchored to ground at218. A spur gear 220 is fixed to the outer member 210 of the clutchassembly, and is meshed with a spur gear, 222 fixed on a power outputshaft 224.

The barrel 200 has two gas ports 226 which are coupled by a manifold 228to two ports 230 serving to deliver the gas between the normallyadjacent stator and rotor vanes. The construction of stator and rotorassemblies, including vanes, gas manifold and end plate may be identicalto that shown in the first embodiment.

A gas pulse from the barrel will drive the rotor counter clockwise,which will rotate the outer member 210 of the clutch assemblycounterclockwise with respect to the inner member 214, and will wind thetorsion bar 216. At the end of the gas pulse, the torsion bar 216 willunwind, rotating the inner members 214, and with it the entire clutchassembly including the gear 220 clockwise. The gear 220 drives the gear222 and thereby the power output shaft 224.

Iclaim:

1. A drive system for a gun comprising:

a gun barrel having a gas port;

a motor assembly having a stator assembly and a rotor assembly;

a unidirectional clutch assembly having a stator assembly and a rotorassembly;

rigid means fixedly coupling said motor rotor assembly to said clutchrotor assembly;

elongated torsion means having one end fixedly coupled to said clutchrotor assembly and its other end fixedly coupled to said motor statorassembly; and

gas conduit means for communicating gas from said barrel to said motorassembly for introducing a pulse of gas, developed in said barrel by thefiring of a round of ammunition therethrough, between said motor rotorand stator assemblies, whereby to produce a pulse of relative angularrotation therebetween less than 360, said motor rotor assembly rotatingunder the influence of the pulse of gas in the unlocked direction ofsaid clutch assembly to stress said torsion means, said torsion meansunstressingitsclf by providing relative rotation between said clutchstator assembly in the locked direction of said clutch assembly and saidmotor stator assembly.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein:

said gun barrel, said motor stator assembly and said other end of saidelongated torsion means are each anchored to ground; and

said clutch stator assembly is free to rotate and is coupled to anddrives a power output system.

3. A system according to claim 1 further including:

a cluster of a plurality of said gun barrels, each having a respectivegas port, and all mounted in an annular, uniformly spaced-apart row tosaid motor stator assembly;

said gas conduit means including a manifold communicating with all ofsaid barrel gas ports;

said clutch stator assembly being anchored to ground; and

said other end of said elongated torsion means being fixed to said motorstator assembly, whereby said cluster of barrels, said motor statorassembly and said other end of said elongated torsion means all rotateat a common angular velocity.

4. A system according to claim 3 wherein:

said motor rotor assembly is connected to said clutch rotor assembly andsaid one end of said torsion means by a first torque tube;

said motor stator assembly is connected to said other end of saidtorsion means by a second torque tube; and

said torsion member is a torsion bar.

5. A system according to claim 3 wherein:

said cluster of gun barrels and said motor assembly are coaxial.

6. A system according to claim 3 wherein said cluster of gun barrels,said motor assembly, said clutch assembly and said torsion means are allcoaxial.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein:

said motor stator assembly and said motor rotor assembly are coaxial;

said rotor assembly includes:

a tubular shaft having a plurality of spaced apart vanes fixed to andextending centrifugally therefrom;

cylinder at one end thereof, each outlet being adjacent a respectivestator vane; and

the other end of said cylinder having a gas bypass conduit adjacent eachrespective rotor vane for passing gas around the respective rotor vaneafter the vane has rotated a predetermined angular distance.

1. A drive system for a gun comprising: a gun barrel having a gas port;a motor assembly having a stator assembly and a rotor assembly; aunidirectional clutch assembly having a stator assembly and a rotorassembly; rigid means fixedly coupling said motor rotor assembly to saidclutch rotor assembly; elongated torsion means having one end fixedlycoupled to said clutch rotor assembly and its other end fixedly coupledto said motor stator assembly; and gas conduit means for communicatinggas from said barrel to said motor assembly for introducing a pulse ofgas, developed in said barrel by the firing of a round of ammunitiontherethrough, between said motor rotor and stator assemblies, whereby toproduce a pulse of relative angular rotation therebetween less than360*, said motor rotor assembly rotating under the influence of thepulse of gas in the unlocked direction of said clutch assembly to stresssaid torsion means, said torsion means unstressing itself by providingrelative rotation between said clutch stator assembly in the lockeddirection of said clutch assembly and said motor stator assembly.
 2. Asystem according to claim 1 wherein: said gun barrel, said motor statorassembly and said other end of said elongated torsion means are eachanchored to ground; and said clutch stator assembly is free to rotateand is coupled to and drives a power output system.
 3. A systemaccording to claim 1 further including: a cluster of a plurality of saidgun barrels, each having a respective gas port, and all mounted in anannular, uniformly spaced-apart row to said motor stator assembly; saidgas conduit means including a manifold communicating with all of saidbarrel gas ports; said clutch stator assembly being anchored to ground;and said other end of said elongated torsion means being fixed to saidmotor stator assembly, whereby said cluster of barrels, said motorstator assembly and said other end of said elongated torsion means allrotate at a common angular velocity.
 4. A system according to claim 3wherein: said motor rotor assembly is connected to said clutch rotorassembly and said one end of said torsion means by a first torque tube;said motor stator assembly is connected to said other end oF saidtorsion means by a second torque tube; and said torsion member is atorsion bar.
 5. A system according to claim 3 wherein: said cluster ofgun barrels and said motor assembly are coaxial.
 6. A system accordingto claim 3 wherein said cluster of gun barrels, said motor assembly,said clutch assembly and said torsion means are all coaxial.
 7. A systemaccording to claim 1 wherein: said motor stator assembly and said motorrotor assembly are coaxial; said rotor assembly includes: a tubularshaft having a plurality of spaced apart vanes fixed to and extendingcentrifugally therefrom; said stator assembly includes; a tubularcylinder having closed ends passing said tubular shaft therethrough andenclosing said vanes, and having a like plurality of spaced-apart vanesfixed to and extending centripetally therefrom between saidcentrifugally extending vanes; said gas conduit having a plurality ofoutlets into said cylinder at one end thereof, each outlet beingadjacent a respective stator vane; and the other end of said cylinderhaving a gas bypass conduit adjacent each respective rotor vane forpassing gas around the respective rotor vane after the vane has rotateda predetermined angular distance.